We build our own future

On a sustainable trend in building an updated model of government

On August 9th, a regular meeting of the Headquarters of Patriotic Forces was held at the National Library. Although the definition of ‘regular’ in this case will not be entirely correct. Leading political parties and public associations of our country have agreed on general principles for carrying out political activities. And this is a significant event.

Benefit changes

Belarus is entering a very responsible period. Six months remain until the day of elections to the National Assembly and local Soviets. Then the Belarusian People’s Congress will be formed, and in 2025 presidential elections are coming. Recently, the issues of electoral campaigns were discussed at the meeting of the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko with Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova and Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Sergeyenko. Now the upcoming elections have become a subject of discussion for representatives of political parties and civil society. This is a sure sign of the growing dynamics of the political process.
Over the past three years, the social life of the country has undergone significant changes. The coup attempt thwarted by patriotic forces in 2020 taught us a lot. 

We have become more confident and consistent in building a domestic model of government, based on our own understanding of democracy, and not copying Western examples of their pseudo-democracy. 

And even now it is possible to determine the stable trends of this process.

Reliance on law and party reorganisation 

First, reliance on the order. 

Any changes in Belarus take place in accordance with the law. It would not be an exaggeration to say that never before has the legal community of our country enjoyed such influence.

Whether it is the improvement of the political system or the regulation of the activities of cultural institutions, not to mention the rules of management, everything is done based on the letter of the law. Last year’s referendum on the approval of a new version of the Constitution was a clear evidence of this, and then a whole series of laws followed, including on the Belarusian People’s Congress, civil society, and political parties.
Second, building an original system of people’s representative power. This includes a broad discussion of any amendments to the legislation, and work with the appeal of citizens, which far exceeds the boundaries of the usual communication between government officials and ordinary people. Now the Belarusian People’s Congress has received constitutional status as the highest body of people’s representation.
Third, there is a reorganisation of party life. More precisely, its revival on new constitutional foundations. Previously, there were formally 15 political parties. But most of them were paper formations created for the ambitions of their own leaders. Although things were not so harmless. Those of them who relied on anti-state activities received generous funding from abroad.
An officially registered political structure was of great interest to forces that wanted to achieve political change in their favour. It was a direct threat to national security. Four parties have now undergone re-registration: the Belarusian Party Belaya Rus, the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, the Communist Party of Belarus and the Republican Party of Labour and Justice. 

The differences in their ideological programmes are quite significant, but all together they agree on the main thing: they recognise the current Constitution, the achievements of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s presidency, state symbols and the geopolitical choice of the Belarusian people.

Actually, this is reflected in the declaration adopted on August 9th. This practice of organising political life should be recognised as quite civilised. In most countries of the world with a stable state system, the leading political forces stand on a common ideological and political basis, entering into fierce discussions about certain details.

Society demonstrates maturity

Fourth, the Belarusian civil society has not just formed, but is increasingly demonstrating its political maturity. It used to be that Western well-wishers generously supported various kinds of ‘civil initiatives’, behind which frankly destructive activities were hidden. It even seemed that the very concept of ‘civil society’ was discredited. But the Belarusians had the wisdom not to throw the baby out with the bath water. 

After all, the idea of civil society is noble in its original basis. Now Belaya Rus and the Belarusian Women’s Union, trade unions and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, a veteran organisation, are proving this with their specific deeds. And new structures are also appearing, for example, Patriots of Belarus.

This completely refutes the thesis of critics of the Belarusian way of social development that everything is supposedly clamped down in our country and any initiative is suppressed. On the contrary, it is in our day that we are witnessing a sharp activation of public life based on a patriotic consensus.
Fifth, there is a thoughtful redistribution of powers between the various branches of power, as well as between the centres and the regions. Without excessive revolutionary and hype. 

The institution of presidential power has been preserved as the core of the entire state building. But at the same time, the legislative and some other powers of the Head of State are limited.

But the role and responsibility of the Parliament has increased. Local Soviets and executive committees received much more power in dealing with topical issues of life in regions, districts, cities, and in the countryside. And the entire political system is balanced by the same Belarusian People’s Congress.

Our agenda

It should not be forgotten that the media is also a political institution. Sociological surveys confirm that the domestic media have grown significantly in recent years and enjoy the steady trust of citizens. We have leaders of public opinion to whom people pay heed.
Moreover, they have become recognisable abroad as well. Belarusian television, radio, newspapers, new media are actively shaping the national agenda. And this was also achieved thanks to the reorganisation of the information field after 2020. Deservedly, the status of extremist was given to those propaganda mouthpieces that poisoned the public atmosphere for years on foreign grants. They are thrown out of Belarus. As well they might!

The experience of modern state building attracts more and more attention abroad. Even American and European experts, while publicly criticising our political practice, actually scribble analytical notes in which they analyse in detail the reasons for the stability of the domestic constitutional system. 

Let alone our friends from Russia, China and other countries. We even see how sometimes they copy the Belarusian experience. However, this is a topic for another article. In the meantime, let’s just summarise the preliminary results: we are entering a new political cycle with substantially strengthened public institutions. And the process of improving the national political model is far from complete.

By Ph.D. in History Vadim Gigin